Watch: Clegg railing against Remploy closures


by Sunny Hundal    
9:20 am - March 8th 2012

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Yesterday the government announced that funding for Remploy – which provides work for people with disabilities – was being drastically cut. There are plans to close 36 of its 54 factories, putting more than 1,700 jobs at risk.

Remploy found more than 20,000 jobs for disabled people during 2010/11 – it was more successful than their Workfare programmes.

You will have noticed the Deputy Prime Minister said nothing about the closures yesterday.

That is probably because in Sept 2007 Nick Clegg gave a passionate speech against the closure of a local Remploy factory in Sheffield.

Watch

(video via @bysshe1)

In his speech Clegg says he is “dismayed” at the [Labour] government’s “lack of imagination” to consider different business models”.

At the time, Labour was also trying to modernise the scheme and closed a few factories after negotiating with workers. But it faced stiff resistance from unions then.

So after having a go at Labour for not thinking of alternatives, Clegg and his government do exactly that a few years later.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Not an economist

“At the time, Labour was also trying to modernise the scheme and closed a few factories after negotiating with workers. But it faced stiff resistance from unions then.”

Clunky writing of the week.

2. So Much For Subtlety

So after having a go at Labour for not thinking of alternatives, Clegg and his government do exactly that a few years later.

Perhaps in the meantime he thought about the alternatives, realised there were none and so did what Labour did before him?

Mind you, even I think this is stupid.

3. Jim

Why would anyone be surprised at this? Disabled people having a job? This goes against everything the Tories and their little wankstain of a Lib Dem pet stands for.

Working and being paid for your labour? That is so 1940s (as Nicky says). Surely a more dignified option, would be to throw the disabled onto the dole and then punish them for having the audacity of giving up work, by forcing them onto Tesco’s workfare programme?

Dirty sub human Tory scum.

4. Tim Worstallt

“Yesterday the government announced that funding for Remploy – which provides work for people with disabilities – was being drastically cut. There are plans to close 36 of its 54 factories, putting more than 1,700 jobs at risk.

Remploy found more than 20,000 jobs for disabled people during 2010/11 – it was more successful than their Workfare programmes.”

They way you’ve written that implies that Remploy has in fact changed its practices.

It used to employ disabled people directly and now places them with other employers. For example, it placed 10,000 people each year…..while closing the factories will now only lose 1,700 jobs.

So, whatever money should righteously be spent upon aiding the disabled into work, it looks like closing the factories and making placements into other firms would be the best way of doing that.

Now it might just be the way you’ve written that, might be the reality, I don’t know. But they way you have explained it it really does look like placements provide more jobs than factories….thus we should have more placements and fewer factories.

5. Max

@3 Jim

This is the implementation of the recommendations of the Sayce report. Liz Sayce is CEO of RADAR and the report is approved by Disability UK and others, including Remploy as the funding transfers to Access for Work. The report clearly identified the Remploy factory issue.

Dirty sub human Disability Charity scum

6. Just Visiting

what I heard on Radio 4 – was that it was costing £25,000 subsidy per job per year to keep these factory jobs going…

Hard to think any way to argue this was a sensible level of subsidy.

7. Jim

JV @ 6

Yes, but how much does it cost in human terms as well as financial to put people who are hard to employ elsewhere onto the dole? Not just in terms of benefits, but the various schemes that people like A4E leech from the system?

Last week when the workfare issue was at its height, the Tories were at pains to talk about ‘dignity’, ‘self worth’ that goes along with work. Not only that, but stressing the importance of gaining work experience and having something to put on a CV etc. Furthermore, we are told that disabled people should work.

Here was a scheme that ticked all the boxes, yet the Tories are quite willing to destroy all that? Yet are perfectly willing to throw these people on the dole and then punish them by using them as free labour for major Party donors?

So what is the point? Sack these people, remove them from a system that actually worked and throw them onto the dole;

THE VERY DOLE SYSTEM THAT THEY SAY SHOULD BE DETESTED AND AVIODED AT ALL COSTS.

Typical Tory scum, pull the rug from a system that achieved results to prop up some of the biggest companies in the Country, robbing the disabled of dignity at the same time. Cameron described those who opposed workfare as ‘snobs’, but by the Christ it didn’t take long to see the real fucking snobs when it comes to kicking seven shades of shit out of a disabled worker.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. sunny hundal

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  2. Liberal Conspiracy

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  3. nicky clark

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  4. Steven Baxter

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  5. Paul Trembath

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  6. ???F???? ????? M?

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  7. HullRePublic

    RT @sunny_hundal: Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/jqa8tkOc

  8. Chris Murray

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/jJtmAVvi via @libcon

  9. Jonty Malingerer

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  10. les.a

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  11. Lance Dyer

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  12. Skipton & Ripon CLP

    When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/uxCyE0fa via @libcon #wrb #spartacusreport #boycottworkfare #nhs #democracy

  13. Nancy Donnelly

    RT @stebax: It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Mmirxb8d

  14. Isobel waby

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  15. Qian Yu

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  16. Neil Courtman

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  17. Paul Trembath

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  18. Ivan White

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  19. Richard Alexandar

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  20. House Of Twits

    RT @sunny_hundal In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/8Flyj5OC

  21. Tom Serpell

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  22. Tom Serpell

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  23. malcolm

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  24. malcolm

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  25. Jane Phillips

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  26. David Smout

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  27. Steve Green

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  28. leftlinks

    Liberal Conspiracy – Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/XGhUUceD

  29. Joey Severn

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  30. The Gimpy Blog

    Regardless of the merits of this decision, Clegg truly is the archetypical opportunistic politician without principles http://t.co/ysOxMZXY

  31. Eddie Street

    RT @libcon Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/S4TEbZK8 > More Betrayal from Clegg

  32. Geoffrey Pearson

    @mrjamesob Clegg and Remploy http://t.co/NZBoJg2O

  33. Lambeth NUT

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures http://t.co/Xhl8UjCc

  34. Mark Gillespie

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  35. rburkwood

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  36. Kat

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/K57W2GyF via @libcon #remploy #wrb #disability

  37. Errol McDonald

    Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/sFeteGWu via @libcon

  38. Chris Nicholson

    Cleggmania? Sigh. RT @stebax: It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/fCx7p0rl

  39. Olive

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  40. Olive

    @mrjamesob Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/kgLTEr9M (via @bysshe1)

  41. Justin B

    RT @sunny_hundal: In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/42L0TIqE

  42. Lesley Farrington

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  43. A Better Way

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  44. STUC

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  45. John Warrender

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  46. Jane Shaw

    RT @sunny_hundal: Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/jqa8tkOc

  47. Jane Shaw

    It's funny to look back on the old Nick Clegg, knowing what we know now. No, not funny. http://t.co/Qk70DCun

  48. Nick H.

    In 2007 Nick Clegg wanted govt to think of "alternatives" to Remploy closures. But now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj

  49. Helen HH

    Revealed: Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (via @bysshe1)

  50. Natacha Kennedy

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  51. Kevin Donovan

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  52. littlepixie

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  53. nobby-Lobby

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  54. appleblossombea

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  55. Fredrik Walløe

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  56. Chris Paul

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  57. Roger Bliss

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/ZfGnTFtj (from earlier)

  58. digimarc

    Video of Nick Clegg railing in support of Remploy workers in 2007. Now he's silent on it http://t.co/UCXwFTID (from earlier) says it all

  59. Chris Salter

    Watch: when Clegg railed against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/V3Be9Dpt #ppnews #wrb

  60. Arun Mehta

    Video: When Nick Clegg railed at Remploy closures in 2007. http://t.co/iJ0FtauW via @libcon

  61. Remploy closures: an act of callous cost-cutting dressed up as progressive « ATOS REGISTER OF SHAME

    [...] Watch: When Nick Clegg railed against Remploy closures (liberalconspiracy.org) [...]

  62. teddy mcnabb

    Watch: Clegg railing against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/XaHIF8Of via @libcon

  63. Simon HB

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  64. jo schmoe

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  65. Ratcatcher

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  66. Ricky

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  67. Scott Edgar

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  68. John J Marachuk

    2007: Clegg rails against Remploy closures http://t.co/haWomKhl Today: Clegg defends Remploy closures #pmqs

  69. Peter Smith

    Why has Clegg been silent over #remploy? He has a history of support. How times change. Seemed so believable then http://t.co/oJ2eVgQx

  70. Andreas Baader

    Why has Clegg been silent over #remploy? He has a history of support. How times change. Seemed so believable then http://t.co/oJ2eVgQx

  71. Michael

    Why has Clegg been silent over #remploy? He has a history of support. How times change. Seemed so believable then http://t.co/oJ2eVgQx

  72. Kev

    Why has Clegg been silent over #remploy? He has a history of support. How times change. Seemed so believable then http://t.co/oJ2eVgQx

  73. Raymond Procter

    Why has Clegg been silent over #remploy? He has a history of support. How times change. Seemed so believable then http://t.co/oJ2eVgQx

  74. John A.Davies Media

    Watch: Clegg railing against Remploy closures | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/D3IfeE6e via @libcon





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